This week saw members of the waste and resources industry from across the country descend on London for two days of discussion on the sector's hot topics. The EU referendum, the future of food waste, the Circular Economy Package and producer responsibility were all on the agenda. Here are some of the things that we learned.

The UK government looks set to finally take action on the polluting microbeads that are damaging our marine environment.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including an award for edoc, a retirement at WRAP, Cromwell Polythene, MetalMatters and Recolight.

M&S has reduced its stores’ food waste by nine per cent through its charity redistribution schemes, according to its 2016 ‘Plan A’ report.

WasteAid UK, a charity helping to establish waste management processes in developing countries, has won a National Energy Globe Award for its work in The Gambia.

Members of the UK public are being asked to spend two minutes picking litter from a beach, mountain, river or woods as part of the first national #2minutebeachclean Day.

The EAC could seek a ban on microbeads being used in cosmetics if companies do not take action themselves, after a briefing summarised research into the environmental impact of pollutant microplastics.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including a charity recycling scheme in Northern Ireland, new waste-derived fuels and work on a landfill nature reserve.

The Marine Conservation Society has asked for volunteers to join in ‘The Great British Beach Clean’, an annual weekend dedicated to picking and monitoring coastal litter.

When grown, fish that were exposed to microplastics as larvae prefer to eat plastic rather than their natural prey and are less responsive to predator cues, threatening the sustainability of entire species, according to new research.